Tottenham transfer news usually revolves around arrivals, yet the more revealing question this winter concerns who leaves a midfield that Roberto De Zerbi rebuilt this summer. Spurs sit tenth in the Premier League table after a volatile start to 2026/27, which opened with six winless matches and echoed previous seasons.

De Zerbi has since found a rhythm and mounted a notable turnaround. Three consecutive victories, including statement wins over Chelsea and Crystal Palace, came before a 1-0 defeat at Leeds United checked the momentum.

The improvement stems from aggressive summer business on the double pivot, where the club re-engineered their engine room by signing Sandro Tonali from Newcastle as a proactive ball-winner and Mateus Fernandes for his progression, passing range and press resistance.

Together they mirror the pairing of Moisés Caicedo and Alexis Mac Allister at De Zerbi’s Brighton. They play close together, drawing the press with short passes before releasing incisive vertical balls. James Maddison acts as the premier fluid link between midfield and the frontline, while Rodrigo Bentancur provides seasoned, rotational security.

The hierarchy has crystallised quickly in De Zerbi’s preferred central framework, and it demands midfielders who welcome pressure inside their own box, a task that rewards composure over aggression.

Tottenham transfer news: Crystal Palace eye a reunion

One name has dropped out of that picture. According to a CaughtOffside report citing Football Insider, Palace want to re-sign Conor Gallagher before the January window, with Leeds and Everton also tracking the 26-year-old England international.

He has made four starts this season, one in the last six league games, and played 26 minutes off the bench at Leeds. Spurs are unlikely to sanction a winter exit because De Zerbi counts him in his long-term plans, though limited minutes might prompt a rethink.

The mismatch is tactical, not a question of quality. His pressing and second-ball recoveries suit the high press, but his spatial discipline and composure in tight spaces lag behind. In 323 Premier League minutes, he has lost possession 11 times and committed seven fouls.

Should Tottenham cash in on Gallagher this January?

Yes. Tonali and Fernandes have modernised the midfield so completely that Gallagher’s attributes are redundant to the primary system, so Spurs do not need him in the long term.

The long-term-plans line looks like market-value protection. A high-wage specialist who sits discontented on the bench loses value month by month, so Tottenham should avoid the squad-depth trap. With Palace, Leeds and Everton monitoring him, a bidding war is viable, and €35m to €40m, roughly £30m to £35m, would return close to the £35m Spurs paid.

Reinvestment matters more, because De Zerbi’s real weakness is a frontline that has badly underperformed. Bournemouth’s Marcus Tavernier or Alex Scott would add goals and fluid depth that Gallagher cannot offer in the final third.